PERFECT WAFFLES

2 cups flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 large eggs ; separated
1/4 cup butter or margarine ; melted
2 -1/4 cups buttermilk
Confectioners' sugar
Pure maple syrup
Sliced nectarines
Fresh berries


Heat oven to 200* F. Heat waffle iron.

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in large bowl.

Whisk egg yolks in medium bowl until lightly beaten. Whisk in buttermilk and melted butter until blended. Whisk buttermilk mixture into dry ingredients until smooth.

Beat egg whites in small bowl with an electric mixer until stiff but not dry. Fold into batter with a rubber spatula just until blended. Makes about 6 cups batter.

Bake waffles in waffle iron according to manufacturer?s directions, until crisp and golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes.

Transfer each batch directly onto oven rack to keep warm. Repeat. Dust waffles with confectioners' sugar; serve with maple syrup and fruit, if desired.